Should I withhold food or water for pendulous crop?

[coach723]

Pendulous crop can often become sour since the food can't empty. I would do the treatment and leave the bra on and see if it gets better. The bra won't hurt anything. And it just needs to be snug enough to support the crop, so adjust as necessary.

 

[chickens really]

@TwoCrows

 

[ANiceKaren]

She does appear to have quite the baggage. Please read this https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Hopefully, it can fill in some areas of possible confusion about crop disorders.

The best way to tell if a chicken has pendulous crop is to treat for sour crop and when the crop still refuses to empty, you can then try the bra. By checking the crop each morning before the hen eats or drinks, you will be able to tell if the crop has emptied overnight as it should. Crop bras may need a few days of adjustment to get the fit right. You will know the fit is right when the crop is emptying overnight.

There is often no bad odor associated with sour crop. The only time I've smelled a sour, rank odor is when a hen has badly impacted crop that hasn't been able to empty at all, causing the contents to spoil and sour.

There is no need to withhold food and water while treating a crop issue. Usually a chicken will self limit food during a crop issue, and they always need water regardless.

Sorry to jump in on this but I’m happy to hear I don’t have to withhold food! I have a molting girl who has a mildly impacted crop and the thought of witholding food when she is already starving and thin and keeping her from her flock was so overwhelming! She herself isn’t eating…I worried that if I took her from flock that stress would make her worse! I’ve been doing coconut oil and massaging hoping this helps my Dandelion.